Race game



J. CO CALLOL May 22, 1934.

RACE GAME Filed Feb. 10, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mm MW m a T 0 N NZ R w ao m m J. CO CALLOL May 22, 1934.

RACE GAME Filed Feb. 10, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet I INVENTOR Jose ('0 Calla]ATTORNEY Patented May 22 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved race game and more particularly toapparatus of the known type comprising a reciprocating or vibratingtrack upon which model horses or other objects are caused to travel inone direction due to the manner in which the track is caused to movequickly in one direction and relatively slowly in the oppositedirection. In such apparatus as heretofore proposed, manually operatedmechanism and electrically operated motors have been employed forimparting rotary motion to members from which reciprocating or vibratingmotion in one direction is imparted to the track which latter is movedin the other direction by spring means.

One object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of thistype of simplified and improved construction and which will be efficientin its operation and can be cheaply manufactured.

A further object of my invention is to provide a race game playingapparatus comprising a track of the type described having actuatingmeans operated electromagnetically so that the actuating mechanism is ofextreme cheapness and simplicity and is very light, strong and durable.A still further object of my invention is to provide theelectro-magnetic operating means with a suitable control whereby thespeed of operation and consequently the rate of travel of the horses orother objects may be conveniently controlled. Still another object of myinvention is to provide an apparatus of this type which is particularlyadapted for use on board ship and is adapted to swing about alongitudinal axis so that the track does not tilt to one side or theother due to the movement of the deck on which it is mounted.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out inthe appended claims, it being understood that various changes in theform, proportions, size and minor details may be made without departingfrom the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantagesthereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one form of theapparatus; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof taken onthe line 2-2 Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view of part of the apparatus taken onthe line 3-3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section taken on theline 4-4; Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a similarly enlarged vertical sectiontaken on the line 55, Fig. 4, and also showing a wiring diagram.

In the form shown on the drawings an open underframe 10 is formed withcross bars 11 having inwardly projecting studs 12 mounted in openchannels or holes provided at the upper ends of the uprights 13 whichlatter are supported upon vertically adjustable feet or base supports 14in such manner that the frame 10 is free to swing on a longitudinal axispassing through the said studs 12 while a balance weight 15 is hung wellbelow the said axis and is carried on a longitudi- 05 nal rod 16connected with the frame 10 by depending rods 17 so that the frame 10 isprevented from tilting sidewise when the deck 18 is in a slopingposition.

Mounted on the frame 10 is a movable track 19 which is preferably formedof thin sheet metal or other convenient substantially rigid material anddepending from the underside of the track 19 are two brackets 20 adaptedto serve as stops for the track when engaged by the said cross-bars 11of the frame 10, so as to limit the longitudinal movement of the trackupon the frame, and the left hand stop bracket 20, Fig. 2, is normallyretained in engagement with its cross-bar 11 by leans of a spring 21connected at one end to a hook 22 on the underside of the track andconnected at its opposite end to an eye carried on a slide piece 23which latter is mounted on guide rods 24 on the end of the frame 10 andan adjusting screw 25 is provided for moving the slide 23 upon the rod24 in order to vary the tension of the spring 21. Between the track 19and the frame 10 ball-bearings 26 are provided, these balls beinginterposed between grooved blocks 2'? on the underside of the track, andsimilarly grooved blocks 28 on the upper surface of the frame 10, sothat the track may move smoothly in a longitudinal direction in themanner hereinafter described.

Mounted on the frame 10 is an electro-magnet 29 which cooperates with aplate 30, Figs. 2 and 3, so that when the electro-magnet is energized,the plate 30 is drawn towards the left and when the magnet isdeenergized the plate 30 moves to the right under the action ofcompression springs 31 provided on rods 32 secured to the back of theplate 30 and passing through openings in crossbars 33 on the frame 10.The springs 31 are mounted under tension between weights 34. (secured onthe rods 32) and the face of one of the cross-bars 33.

The electro-magnet 29 also cooperates with a swinging plate 35 mountedon a spindle 36 and adapted to swing in a clockwise direction-Fig.5-into engagement with the magnet when the latter is energized andadapted to be moved away from the magnet by means of a weight 37adjustably mounted on an arm 38 when the magnet is deenergized. The arm38 extends through a saddle piece 39 and is engaged by an adjustingscrew 40, by means of which the relative position of the arm 38 and thepiece 39 may be finely adjusted. The magnet is carried on cross-bars 41secured to the frame 10, and depending from one of the cross-bars 41 isa strap 42 to which is secured a bracket 43 carrying a contact devicecomprising a carbon block 44 normally engaged by a contact stud 45,which is pressed into con tact with the block 44 by means of a spring46, the arrangement being such that when current is supplied to theelectro-magnet, the plate is drawn thereto thus raising the arm 38 andconsequently the stud 45 which is secured to the saddle piece 39 therebybreaking the circuit and causing deenergization of the magnet whichresults in downward movement of the stud 45 under the action of thespring 46 thus making and breaking the circuit and consequentlyvibrating the plate 30, which latter engages a depending bracket 47 onthe underside of the track 19 so that the latter is caused to vibrate,and the arrangement is such that the movement of the track 19 towardsthe right is relatively fast while the movement towards the left isrelatively slow so that the horses or other objects 48 are caused tomove towards the left over the surface of the track, and this surface ispreferably provided with pro tuberances 49 for the purpose of deflectingor retarding the horses 48 to add to the uncertainty of the game.

The electrical diagram shown at Fig. 5 com prises a connection 49 fromthe stud 45 to a control switch 50, a line 51 from the switch to thesource of power 52, a line 53 from the source of power to one pole ofthe electro-magnet 29 and a line 54 from the other pole of the magnet toa rheostat 55 and a line 56 from the rheostat to a plate 57 in contactwith the said block 44 so that a movement of the stud 45 relative to thesaid block 44 makes and breaks the circuit. The operation of the trackis controlled by the main switch 50 while the rheostat '55 may beutilized to vary the speed of travel of the horses or other objectsalong the track. This apparatus is adapted for use on board ship, atamusement resorts and in the home and elsewhere. The model mounted inthe manner shown particularly at Figs. 1 and 2 is intended for use onboard ship, and smaller, cheaper and more portable forms of theapparatus may be provided without self-levelling means for use in theprivate home.

Although the drawings and the above specification disclose the best modein which I have contemplated embodying my invention, I desire to be inno way limited to the details of this disclosure, for in the furtherpractical application of my invention, many changes in form andconstructions may be made as circumstances require or experiencesuggests without departing from the spirit of the invention within thescope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a race game apparatus having a support, a frame mounted on saidsupport, a racing surface slidably mounted on said frame, tension meansfor drawing the racing surface in one longitudinal direction, andelectromagnetic means for drawing the surface in the opposite directionagainst the action of said tension means, said electromagnetic meansincluding a pivoted element adapted to swing 'upon energization of saidelectromagnetic means, and means raised by the swinging of said elementfor automatically controlling the de-energization of saidelectromagnetic means.

2. In a race game apparatus having a support, a frame mounted on saidsupport, a racing surface slidably mounted on said frame, tension meansfor drawing the racing surface in one longitudinal direction, andelectromagnetic means for drawing the surface in the opposite directionagainst the action of said tension means, said electromagnetic meansincluding a pivoted plate adapted to be swung into a Ver tical positionby the electromagnet of said electromagnetic means, a weighted armsecured to said .plate for swinging said plate away from theelectromagnet of said electromagnetic means when the latter isde-energized, and contact means controlled by the movement of saidweighted arm for controlling the energization of the electromagnet ofsaid electromagnetic means.

JosE co CALLOL.

